US approves safety steps for two urban A-plants

February 7, 1980

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved a series of special safety measures Wednesday for the Indian Point nuclear plant near New York and the Zion plant near Chicago. The safety measures are aimed at providing time to evacuate thousands of residents in the two metropolitan areas in case of a nuclear accident.

The commission also endorsed a staff recommendation requiring license revocation and final decommissioning of Indian Point 1, one of three reactors in the suburban New York plant. The antiquated reactor has not functioned in five years.